You have been a national icon of women’s power as the first female IPS officer of the country: As you have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party now, you are giving legitimacy to the party and its 7 months’ rule in the centre. We, some women of the country and of the constituency, request you to answer the following questions. This will only take 5 minutes of your time. If you are too busy to answer at length, a simple yes or no would do!
1. The Hindutva leaders have made unacceptable remarks on women’s choices, be that costumes, profession or love (women wearing jeans, women having to give birth to four children to save the Hindu religion or their war on love through “love jihad”). They have also demonstrated that they have no qualms in using male violence on women if it fits their logic. Many incidents of moral policing on women by Hindutva parties and allies have been reported. This includes physically assaulting and molesting young girls by them. Do you approve of this sort of denial of women’s freedom for personal choices? If yes, what should we expect from the party that is in centre and contesting for Delhi elections? If you don’t, how do you intend to try and change their positions on women?
2. As a police woman, you do know of the reports that 63 MPs of the BJP have a criminal record. A lot of these crimes are against women, including rape and assault. Do you justify having rapists and molesters in responsible positions in your party?
3. Ever since the Hindutvavadis have been in power, attacks on minorities are on the rise. For instance – the attacks on Churches and Christmas celebrations. As a person who knows the history of communal violence, you do know that communal violence is fundamentally anti-women in that it leaves the choice of being assaulted by men from other communities or of being made to live under the directions of men from their own communities. As a woman, would you disown the communalist bigotry of the hindutvavadis or endorse it, now that you have joined them?
4. Privatisation of railways and de-regularisation of medicines have a huge impact on our daily lives. Do you think these steps were essential for making India into what the party envisions?
5. Hindutvavadis have been coming up with statements that make learning and teaching history, science and social issues difficult. As an educated women, would you endorse this kind of political interference in education?
We know you won’t run away from these questions as you have always been applauded for your faith in social justice and commitment to the rights of women. Since you have been an icon of female strength, many of us are confused with your current political decision. Once you answer these questions, our doubts will be clarified about supporting you.
Kindly respond.
Thank you.
January 22, 2015 at 4:55 pm
“For instance – the attacks on Churches and Christmas celebrations” Ever heard of something called jumping to conclusions? Its equally possible (and more than likely) the work of the congress which is trying to brand the BJP communal. Till the result of the investigation is out lets not pre-decide based on our preconceived notions. One other thing the VHP and BJP are rivals. It might be convenient to blame the BJP for the utterances of every Hindu extremist in the land but objectivity and facts will show otherwise. The Hindu extremist’s (and other extremists) ridiculous, sexist, racist and biased utterances and that of our politicians and religious zealots, gurus and babas have been constant for the last ten years almost , even a cursory google search will prove that, so its not like bjp has come and made it worse. Oh and I am not a bjp zealot or “bhakt” or whatever it is called. The fact is we are wasting time barking up the wrong tree while the criminal is getting away. The bjp is busy flouting all environmental norms to accommodate business and businessmen but we are focusing on so called communal-ism of bjp cause that’s more news making. its easy to whip up people on religious lines but the crowds could not care less about environment. People will respond if we say your god is under threat than if we say your forest and rivers are under threat. Maybe the bjp is counting on that.
January 23, 2015 at 5:39 am
I bet you are BJP supporter!
January 22, 2015 at 5:50 pm
I wonder if she will have the time to answer….she is quite busy campaigning.